Welcome back to our deep dive into the world of Blue Mountain Pottery! We are so glad you could join us for the second installment of this special series. Spring is finally starting to peek its head out here in Ontario…. honest…. and while the flowers are trying to bloom, we’ve been busy blooming with a massive collection of vintage treasures in the shop. If you missed Part 1, we talked all about how this legendary company got its start on a ski hill in Collingwood. It’s such a cool local story, and it makes every piece of BMP feel like a little slice of our own history.
But today, we’re getting into the real "magic" behind the pottery. If you’ve ever held a piece of Blue Mountain Pottery in your hands, you know exactly what we’re talking about. It’s that smooth, glassy finish with those incredible streaks of emerald green and deep, dark black. It looks like it’s still moving, doesn't it? Well, there’s a reason for that! We’re pulling back the curtain on the famous "Reflowing" or "Drip" glaze technique that put Collingwood on the map for collectors all over the world.
We have some absolute goodies in our current online auctions right now, and we’ve been seeing so much excitement from the community. It’s been a blast cataloging these treats for you and sharing the fun with fellow collectors.
The Two-Glaze Dance
So, how did they get that look? It wasn't just a matter of dipping a pot in a bucket of paint and calling it a day. No way! The "Secrets of the Drip" actually started with a very specific, two-part process.
Back in the day, the talented folks at the factory (like the legendary Dennis Tupy) used a special "reflowing decorating" method. First, they would take a piece of "bisque" ware: that’s clay that has been fired once but hasn't been glazed yet: and they would apply a light-colored glaze. Usually, this was a white or a very pale green highlight. But here’s the kicker: they didn't cover the whole thing. They painted these highlights only where they wanted the "glow" to happen.
After the light glaze was applied, they would dip the entire piece into a second, much darker glaze. In the classic BMP look, this was a deep, dark green or nearly black color. This created a layered effect that was just waiting for a little heat to bring it to life. Unlike modern mass-produced pottery where everything is sprayed on by a machine, every single piece at Blue Mountain was handled by a real person. That’s why we love these antique auctions…. you can really feel the hand of the artist in every "treat" you find.
Turning Up the Heat: The 2000-Degree Magic
Once the glazes were applied, the pieces were loaded into a kiln for their second firing. And this is where the science meets the art. The kilns were cranked up to a whopping 2000 degrees Fahrenheit! At that temperature, the glazes didn't just sit there: they turned back into a liquid state.
Because of gravity and the intense heat, the two layers of glaze would actually start to "reflow" and run down the sides of the pottery. The light glaze and the dark glaze would mingle and swirl together like a river. This is why you see those vertical streaks and those beautiful marbled patterns. The way the glaze pooled at the bottom or wrapped around the curves of a figurine was totally determined by the shape of the piece and the heat of the kiln.
Sometimes, the glaze would run a little too much! If you look closely at the bottom of a BMP piece, you can often see where the factory workers had to grind off the excess glaze that dripped over the base. They’d even seal it with a little shellac to make sure it was smooth for your coffee table. It’s those little details that make these items so special for collectors who love the hunt.
No Two Pieces Are Ever Alike
This is the part that drives collectors (like us!) absolutely wild. Because the glaze was "reflowing" in a hot kiln, it was impossible to control exactly where every streak would go. You could have ten "Angelfish" figurines sitting on a shelf, and every single one of them would have a slightly different pattern.
One might have a big splash of bright emerald on its side, while another might be dark and moody with just a hint of light green near the fins. This "individuality" is what makes BMP so fun to collect. When you win an item at one of our auctions, you aren't just getting a mass-produced decoration: you’re getting a one-of-a-kind piece of art that no one else in the world has an exact copy of.
It’s like a thumbprint in clay! We’ve seen some pieces where the "flow" is so dramatic it looks like a stormy sky, and others where it’s soft and subtle like moss on a rock. That’s the thrill of the hunt…. you never know which version of the "drip" you’re going to fall in love with next.
Whether you’re a long-time collector or you’re just starting to appreciate the "funky" side of vintage ceramics, understanding the "Drip" makes you realize how much work went into every piece. It wasn't just pottery; it was a carefully choreographed dance between clay, glaze, and fire.
Join the Fun at Our Next Auction!
If all this talk of "drip" glazes has you itching to add some green to your shelves, you are in luck! It’s the perfect time to find that special gift or a little treat for yourself.
Remember, we do scheduled curbside pickup right here, so getting your hands on these "goodies" is a breeze. We love seeing our local neighbors and hearing about your latest finds. Keep an eye on our listings because these BMP pieces tend to fly off the shelves faster than a Collingwood skier on a Saturday afternoon!
Stay tuned for Part 3 of our series, where we’ll be talking about the "Rainbow of BMP": looking at all the rare colors that aren't green! We’re talking Mocha, Pewter, Harvest Gold, Cobalt Blue, and Red & White / Red Flambé. You won't want to miss it!
Happy bidding, everyone!
Team Funky
